Issue briefs and reports

Retaliation and resistance: China’s economic statecraft in a Taiwan crisis

By Logan Wright, Agatha Kratz, Charlie Vest, and Matt Mingey

New research on Chinese resilience to and potential against G7 sanctions in the event of a Taiwan Crisis.

Bolstering cooperation among Quad and Pacific Island countries

By Parker Novak, Kyoko Imai

As the Pacific Islands’ relevance grows, there’s an influx of diplomatic attention and development assistance as external powers seek to curry favor with the sixteen countries. Australia, India, Japan, and the United States (the Quad) seeks to bolster regional engagement to address key regional issues including climate, connectivity, economic development, and maritime security.

Sanctions have become a tool of first resort. But enforcement needs upgraded and updated resources.

By David Mortlock and Alex Zerden

Enforcement remains a critical but underresourced element of economic sanctions.

Attracting foreign direct investments

By Jérémie Bertrand, Joseph Lemoine, Dan Negrea, and Caroline Perrin

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a pivotal objective for countries seeking to bolster their economic development and global competitiveness. By delving into the relationship between freedom and FDI using the Freedom and Prosperity Indexes and examining institutional mechanisms to influence investment, we shed light on the dynamics that determine a country’s attractiveness to foreign investors.

All the autocrat’s men: The court politics of Putin’s inner circle

By Mikhail Zygar

A new Atlantic Council report by journalist Mikhail Zygar explores how Russia's war on Ukraine has affected Vladimir Putin's inner circle.

Reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy imports: Key strategies under five scenarios

By Richard L. Morningstar, András Simonyi, Olga Khakova, Paddy Ryan

To better understand how the war’s conclusion—or lack thereof—will impact the options available to transatlantic policymakers, this report analyzes European security across five general scenarios—a Ukrainian victory, a negotiated settlement, a frozen conflict, a protracted conflict, and a Russian victory.

Leveraging generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals

By Jeffrey Cimmino, Andrew A. Michta

The United States and its allies must leverage generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals.

Inside Afghanistan’s gender apartheid: Listen as women reveal the impact of the Taliban’s oppressive decrees

Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, women have battled against increasingly severe restrictions on education, employment, and daily public life. This report, a joint effort by the Civic Engagement Project and the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, underscores their remarkable resilience and unyielding spirit in the face of gender apartheid.

Stealth, speed, and adaptability: The role of special operations forces in strategic competition

By Clementine G. Starling and Alyxandra Marine

Clementine G. Starling and Alyxandra Marine discuss how special operations forces enhance US readiness in an era of strategic competition.

Not without her: A roadmap for gender equality and Caribbean prosperity

By Wazim Mowla, Valentina Sader

Caribbean development is intrinsically linked with women's equality. After a multi-month consultation process with Caribbean stakeholders, we offer a roadmap on how to achieve inclusive development in the region.